The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-01
COUNT LADINSkI.
REMARKABLE CAREER OF A
MAN WITH A HISTORY.
His Adventures in South America,
in the Siberian Mines, and in
the United States-A
Stirring Life.

"There is man with history" said
an acquaintance to reporter yesterday
afternoon.
The man referred to was sitting in a
hall with several companions around a
table, on which stood mugs, plate OF
caviare sandwishes, pot of mustard,
etc.
II know him well; I will introduce
you," and the reporter was presented to
Mr.. Ladinski, q Pole, and to his COM
panions, three Russians. Ladinski and
his companions seemed to be on the best
of terms. They were speaking French
J when the reporter joined them, but i'm
mcdiately changed to English, which all
spoke fucntly, Ladinski not having the
slightest foreign accent. In the course
of the conversation that ensued Mr..
Ladinski good humoredly answered in
terrogations, and in modest way re-
! countered some of his adventures, which
in q narrative form are about as follows
John, Count Ladinski, was born in
Warsaw, Poland, in 1880. When six
years old he saw his mother knouted for
refusing to tell of her husbands where
abouts. Six months after that his father
was captured and shot by order of the
Car. Shortly after that his mother dis
appeared, and to this day he docs not
know what became of her. When about
seven years of age he found himself home
less and pcnnilcss. He was picked up
half starved on the street by kind
hearted Jew merchant, who adopted and
took him to St. Petersburg. He re-
mained with his adopted father for seven
years, and was given a good education
the merchant employinga tutor for him
and his two sons.
Ladinski was walking along quiet
street one night in St. Petersburg, when
about fifteen years old, and came
suddenly. on two Russian soldiers who
were beating q Polish Jew peddler be-
cause he had refused to give them money.
He became enraged at the sight, and
demanded that they should quit. The
soldiers let the peddler alone, but seized
the boy and were hustling him off to
prison when he drew a knife, killed one
of them, and dangerously wounded the
other.
Realizing what he had done, young
Ladinski slowed away on an English
vessel, and was fortunate enough to es-
cape the country. The Captain of the
vessel took q liking to the boy and
landed him in London with e5 note
and new suit of clothes. He managed
to open communications with his foster
father, who sent a sum of money to q
/ friend of his to be used for Ladinski,
who remained in London for about o
year. Being discovered, however, by
one of the secret service agents of Russia,
he was obliged to- flee England, and
went to Rio Janeiro, South America.
He secured a position as tutor in the
family of rich Brazilian, and remained
there for three years. His benefactor took
strong liking to the young man and
| secured him a commission in the
Brazilian navy.
The man-of-war on which he was went
on cruise to Europe. Ladinski and
several of his brother officers went ashore
one night at Naples to attend masked
ball. He became separated from his
companions and started alone for the
boat, and while on his way was knocked
down, bound and gagged, and hurried
aboard a Russian vessel which was IN the
bay. He was placed in irons and kept in
prison until St. Petersburg was reached.
There he was turned over to the authori
ties.
After having spent six months in a
dungeon without hearing anything from
the outside world, Mr.. Ladinski was taken
before tribunal, tried for the murder OF
the soldier, and sentenced to Siberia for
life. He made the journey to the mines
on foot, with number of political pris-
oncrs, and remained in the mines for five
years.
Mr.. Ladinski seemed adverse to speak.
ing about the hardships he underwent
while there, but said that at the end of
five years he was the only one left out of
twenty-three men who went in with him.
As he had behaved himself so as to win
the respect of the guards and officers, he
was removed from the mine and given a
clerkship in Government warehouse.
While there he conceived the idea of
forging himself pardon from the Car,
and after years hard work, being
assisted by a daughter of the post COM
mandcr, Col. Tourtcloff, he succeeded in
having a free and uncenditionable par
don handed to him. and at once made
preparations to leave. BY some means
he was we'll supplied with funds by his
foster father.
He made his way back to St. Peters
ourg, and was preparing to leave the
country, when he was pounc cd upon by
Russian spies, thrown into Jail to re-
main until an investigation could be had,
which, of course, resulted in the daring
forgery becoming kno wn. The Car,
who evidently had gr i'm sense of hu-
NOR, had the daring y oung Pole brought
before him and ques toned him about
himself. The result of the interview was
that his royal highness pardoned Ladin-
ski for the murder, but all owed the law
to take its course in regard to the forgery,
the result being that he was again SEN
fenced for life in the mines, and started
back to the hell he had schemed 80 long
to escape from.
When about one month on the road
Ladinski anda young Russian officer,
political prisoner, managed to free them
selves of their shacklcs and escaped. Mr..